Written Answers Wednesday 5 May 2010

Scottish Executive

Alcohol

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, in reference to paragraph 136 of Changing Scotland’s Relationship with Alcohol: a Framework for Action , what action has followed the review of current plans and practices for the identification and treatment of offenders with alcohol problems in criminal justice settings.

Shona Robison: A portfolio of three complementary studies has been developed and are funded by Scottish Government to drive forward this commitment. As a result of an initial scoping exercise undertaken, these studies are more extensive than previously outlined in the framework.

  The studies have been commissioned by Health Scotland working with the Scottish Government and other key partners such as the Scottish Prison Service. They include mapping of current plans and practice both in the prison and community justice settings. They will identify and recommend good practice as well as conducting primary research into the feasibility and effectiveness of delivering alcohol brief interventions for offenders in the community justice settings of probation and community service.

  The Scottish Government plans to hold an event later this year to bring together stakeholders, including those from the Scottish Prison Service, criminal justice social work, and the police to share the emerging findings of these studies and discuss any recommendations.

  In addition, the Scottish Government is providing significant funding to a three year pilot in Tayside which focuses on the delivery of healthcare and forensic services to those people in police custody, including those who misuse alcohol, as well as linking people to the services available in the community. As part of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill currently being considered by Parliament, community payback orders are highlighting the opportunities for courts to refer offenders to alcohol services.

Alcohol

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates since 26 April 2009 it has met retailers to discuss the proposed social responsibility levy on alcohol.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government has met a wide group of stakeholders covering both the on and off-trade sectors, including retailers, on 1 May 2009, 8 June 2009 and 11 August 2009 to specifically discuss the proposed social responsibility levy.

  In addition, meetings with retailers and/or their trade associations in respect of the Alcohol etc (Scotland) Bill, including the social responsibility levy, have taken place on 18 June 2009, 20 July 2009, 18 August 2009, 26 August 2009, 14 September 2009, 25 September 2009, 21 October 2009, 22 October 2009, 28 October 2009, 26 November 2009, 14 December 2009, 15 December 2009, 19 January 2010, 22 January 2010, 24 February 2010, 26 February 2010, 9 March 2010 (twice), 25 March 2010 and 21 April 2010.

Animal Welfare

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can provide an estimate of the number of racing greyhounds in Scotland.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government does not keep information about the number of racing greyhounds.

  However, the Independent Review of the Greyhound Industry in Great Britain by Lord Donoughue of Ashton, published in November 2007, estimated that there were about 10,000 greyhounds registered each year. The racing career of a greyhound is approximately from 15 months to about four or five years, thus at any one time there may be about 32,500 greyhounds registered to run at tracks operated under the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) rules.

  In addition, Lord Donoughue estimated that there may be an additional 4,000 greyhounds which run at independent tracks. This would give a GB racing population of approximately 36,500 greyhounds.

Animal Welfare

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 protects the welfare of racing greyhounds.

Richard Lochhead: Section 24 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 makes it an offence to fail to ensure that the needs of a protected animal are met. All dogs, including dogs used in greyhound racing, are protected animals.

  The act describes an animal’s needs as including: its need for a suitable environment; its need for a suitable diet; its need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns; any need it has to be housed with, or apart from, other animals; its need to be protected from suffering, injury and disease.

  Section 19 of the act makes it an offence for the person responsible for an animal to cause it unnecessary suffering, either by an act or omission.

Animal Welfare

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 protects racing greyhounds from the potential risks presented by racing and, if so, which sections of the act apply.

Richard Lochhead: Section 24 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 makes it an offence to fail to meet the needs of a protected animals (racing greyhounds are protected animals) and one of these needs is to protect an animal from suffering, injury and disease. However, section 24(2) (b) of the act requires consideration to be given to whether the activity undertaken in relation to the animal was lawful.

Animal Welfare

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with representatives of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain regarding the welfare of racing greyhounds.

Richard Lochhead: Scottish Government officials met with representatives of the National Greyhound Racing Club in October 2007 and with representatives of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain in September 2008. The welfare of greyhounds was the main topic at both meetings.

Animal Welfare

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any assessment of the impact on greyhound racing should a requirement to microchip all racing greyhounds be introduced in Scotland.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is not aware of any assessment of the impact on greyhound racing if all racing greyhounds were required to be microchipped. However, all greyhounds registered with the Greyhound Board of Great Britain require greyhounds to be permanently identified. From April this year this identification includes a microchip.

Animal Welfare

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to proposals from Dogs Trust that all dogs should be required to be microchipped in the interests of animal welfare.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government fully support microchipping and have advised dog owners to microchip their animals in the Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs (paragraph 5.12). This paragraph details the procedure, explains the many advantages of microchipping and reminds dog owners to update the data base should their circumstances change.

  However, whilst strongly in favour of microchipping, we believe that the decision on whether to microchip should remain voluntary and we have no plans to make microchipping of dogs compulsory.

Animal Welfare

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-32853 by Richard Lochhead on 14 April 2010, for what reason slippage in the payment of invoices in 2008-09 was reported in the Efficiency Outturn Report 2008-09 as an outturn efficiency.

Richard Lochhead: The answer to question S3W-32853 explained the reason for a £20,000 underspend in the animal health and welfare publicity budget for 2008-09. This underspend was not part of the outturn efficiency of £20,000 from that budget as reported in the Efficiency Outturn Report for 2008-09.

  The efficiency saving of £20,000 was achieved by using new methods of providing information to farmers and other stakeholders on animal health and welfare matters. Making greater use of text messaging and email reduced the cost of mailshots whilst maintaining the same level of service.

Central Heating

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31666 by Jim Mather on 9 March 2010, on what date it will publish the Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland .

Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33264 on 29 April 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it proposes to review the extent to which the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator is implementing the provisions of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 stipulating that bodies, including independent schools, should enjoy charitable status only if the fees that they charge are not unduly restrictive.

Fergus Ewing: Under the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, to meet the charity test, a body must be established only for charitable purposes and demonstrate it provides, or intend to provides, public benefit. When determining whether a body provides public benefit the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) must have regard to how the benefit to the public compares to any private benefit or any disbenefit that may result from the activities of the particular body. OSCR must also have regard to whether there are unduly restrictive conditions, including fees or charges, on obtaining the benefit the body provides.

  The interpretation of these statutory provisions in the discharge of its regulatory duty is entirely a matter for OSCR, as an independent regulator. OSCR has produced guidance on Meeting the Charity Test which includes information on how they will assess public benefit. This is available on their website www.oscr.org.uk.

Crown Estate

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the Treasury Committee’s Eighth Report of Session 2009-10, The management of the Crown Estate , in so far as it relates to land in Scotland.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government welcomes the Treasury Committee’s Report and its acknowledgement of the concern in Scotland on current arrangements for the Crown Estate Commissioners. Building on the Treasury Committee recommendations and working constructively with the Crown Estate, we will be seeking to ensure that full weight is given to Scottish interests.

Crown Estate

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what actions it can take to legIslate to regulate the use of Crown Estate land and Crown property rights in Scotland.

Richard Lochhead: Scottish Parliament legislation may in general apply to Crown land in Scotland as it applies to other land. In the case of the Crown Estate, this is however subject to two restrictions. Scottish Parliament legislation cannot deal with the management of the Crown Estate by the Crown Estate Commissioners, nor can it deal with the hereditary revenues of the Crown.

Crown Estate

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) will work with local authorities and schools to support their implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence before August 2010.

Michael Russell: Yes, I can confirm that HMIE will work with local authorities and schools to support their implementation of Curriculum for Excellence before August 2010.

  This support is included in the 10-point plan which was published on 30 March 2010 and states that: HMIE work with education authorities and schools to support their implementation of Curriculum for Excellence with effective innovation promoted through inspections.

  HMIE will continue to take this forward with teachers and education authority staff through, for example, professional dialogue during inspections, capacity building work and sharing good practice in implementation of Curriculum for Excellence and other actions which are still under consideration.

Culture

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking regarding the (a) digitisation, (b) online accessibility and (c) preservation of cultural works.

Fiona Hyslop: There is a wealth of material that has been digitised within Scotland and a massive undertaking by the National Collections and other organisations supported by the Scottish Government to ensure that cultural works are preserved and accessed through digitisation. A number of partnerships and collaborations including Digital Access Scotland exist to co-ordinate and advise on the various aspects of digitisation in national and local collections.

  On-line accessibility is ensured through the organisations’ own websites together with the use of sites such as Flickr and YouTube. These websites comply with the Disability Discrimination Act to ensure inclusion for all online users.

  Making cultural works available in a digital format widens access to the collections and also preserves the items for future generations.

Culture

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in relation to Scotland’s contribution to the 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

Fiona Hyslop: Scotland is involved in all four elements of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad: Ceremonies (we are working with London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) to develop the route and content of the Torch Relay through Scotland); Inspire Mark (two Scottish cultural projects have so far received the Inspire Mark, making them an official part of the Olympiad); Open Weekends (we are actively engaging with a wide cross section of the Scottish cultural sector to encourage participation in Open Weekend 2010 in July), and Major Projects (including Scottish artist Craig Coulthard being commissioned to create the "Forest Pitch" under the "Artist Taking the Lead" strand; two Scottish disability arts companies receiving commissions under the "Unlimited" strand and Scottish composers and ensembles being commissioned to create new musical works for 2012, under the "Sounds" strand).

  In addition, The Legacy Trust UK has co-funded, with the Scottish Arts Council, Scotland’s five cultural strands collectively known as the Scottish Project. The Creative Programmer, based at the Scottish Arts Council, is working closely with LOCOG to determine how Scotland’s cultural organisations can be profiled within the finale of the Cultural Olympiad.

  In late 2009, Scottish Ministers mandated the Scottish Arts Council to co-ordinate cultural activity across all cultural sectors in Scotland in the context of both London 2012 Cultural Olympiad and Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014. The key vehicle for delivering on this mandate is the Cultural Operational Delivery Group, which comprises representatives from the National Collections (museums, galleries, libraries), National Performing Companies, The Cultural Alliance, British Council, Event Scotland, Architecture and Design Scotland, Festivals Edinburgh, Scottish Natural Heritage, Volunteer Development Scotland, VOCAL, Culture and Sport Glasgow and the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee. This is a significant forum for the discussion and planning of activity relating to the Cultural Olympiad, and presents an unprecedented opportunity to galvanise and unite the Scottish cultural sector behind London 2012 and Glasgow 2014.

Culture

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when Historic Scotland last met representatives of the Local Authorities World Heritage Forum to discuss the 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

Fiona Hyslop: An official from Historic Scotland attended the Local Authority World Heritage Forum (LAWHF) Spring Meeting in Bath on 26 March 2010, during which the 2012 Cultural Olympiad Project was discussed as part of the agenda. The official also met with a consultant working on behalf of LAWHF on 12 March in order to discuss the project.

Deaf and Hearing Impaired People

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have tinnitus, broken down by age group.

Shona Robison: The exact number of patients who have been diagnosed with tinnitus in Scotland is not available centrally. However, national estimates can be given based on the number of patients consulting a GP or practice-employed nurse for tinnitus symptoms, based on information obtained from the sample of Scottish general practices participating in PTI (Practice Team Information). The patients registered to PTI practices are representative of Scotland as a whole in terms of their age, gender and deprivation profile. The last year for which PTI data are currently available is the year ending 31 March 2009.

  The estimated number of people consulting a GP or practice-employed nurse for tinnitus symptoms in Scotland in the year ending 31 March 2009, by age group, based on PTI data, is shown in Table 1. Estimates are standardised by gender and deprivation.

  Table 1: Estimated Number of Patients who have Consulted a GP or Practice-Employed Nurse for Tinnitus Symptoms in Scotland, at Least Once in the Year Ending 31 March 2009 by Age Group

  

Age Group
Patient Numbers


24 years and under
472


25-34 years
1,085


35-44 years
1,713


45-54 years
2,679


55-64 years
3,180


65-74 years
2,183


75 years & over
1,623

Deaf and Hearing Impaired People

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the year-on-year increase in tinnitus patients has been in the last five years.

Shona Robison: The exact number of patients who have been diagnosed with tinnitus in Scotland is not available centrally. However, national estimates can be given based on the number of patients consulting a GP or practice-employed nurse for tinnitus symptoms, based on information obtained from the sample of Scottish general practices participating in PTI (Practice Team Information). The patients registered to PTI practices are representative of Scotland as a whole in terms of their age, gender and deprivation profile. The last year for which PTI data are currently available is the year ending 31 March 2009.

  The estimated number of patients who have consulted a GP or practice-employed nurse for tinnitus symptoms in Scotland, at least once for each financial year ending 31 March 2005 to 2009, based on PTI data, is shown in Table 1. Estimates are standardised by gender, age and deprivation.

  Table 1: Estimated Number of Patients who have Consulted a GP or Practice-Employed Nurse for Tinnitus Symptoms in Scotland, at Least Once for Each Financial Year Ending 31 March 2005-09

  

Year
Patient Numbers


2004-05
10,526


2005-06
10,847


2006-07
10,442


2007-08
11,188


2008-09
13,001

Deaf and Hearing Impaired People

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many tinnitus patients experience (a) moderate and (b) severe tinnitus.

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many tinnitus patients have their quality of life severely affected by the condition.

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many audiologists specialise in tinnitus.

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many audiologists involved in tinnitus services have attended training at the Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Centre in London or the National Biomedical Research Unit in Hearing in Nottingham.

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what counselling is available for people with tinnitus.

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many tinnitus devices have been issued to patients in each of the last five years.

Shona Robison: The information is not held centrally.

Deaf and Hearing Impaired People

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many audiology departments provide a tinnitus service and how many have dedicated administrative and clerical support for that service.

Shona Robison: Information is not held centrally on administrative support for healthcare services as this is a matter for local determination.

Deaf and Hearing Impaired People

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many audiologists are practising in each NHS board.

Shona Robison: The information requested is not held centrally. However, information showing NHS staff employed by specialty and NHS board, including audiological medicine, is published annually as part of the workforce census at 30 September each year. This data for 2009 is available at http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/5896.html for medical staff.

Deaf and Hearing Impaired People

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what training and continued development is available for audiologists involved in tinnitus services.

Shona Robison: Queen Margaret University runs an annual Continuing Professional Development programme which is free and accessible to all NHS Audiology employees and covers all aspects of Audiology.

Deaf and Hearing Impaired People

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how long it takes to see an ENT specialist following referral by a GP, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: The current maximum waiting time standard from 31 March 2010 for a first outpatient consultation following a GP referral, including in the speciality of ENT, is 12 weeks. This standard has effectively been delivered by NHSScotland since 31 March 2009, a year ahead of schedule.

Deaf and Hearing Impaired People

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how long it takes to see a specialist at a tinnitus clinic following referral by an ENT specialist, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: The information requested is not available centrally. New Ways waiting times data currently only provides information at speciality level such as ENT.

  Referrals to tinnitus clinics by ENT specialist will be covered by the Scottish Governments challenging 18 weeks referral to treatment target which is due for delivery by end December 2011. This whole journey target will cover all stages of the patients pathway - including referrals by consultants to specialist clinics - right through to the start of treatment.

Deaf and Hearing Impaired People

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cross-border referrals have been received by NHS boards that provide a tinnitus service in each of the last 12 months.

Shona Robison: The information requested is not available centrally. Scottish Morbidity Records data for outpatients is only recorded at speciality level such as ENT.

Dentistry

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on dental bursaries for students at the University of (a) Dundee and (b) Glasgow in each year since 2006-07.

Shona Robison: The information requested is shown in the following table.

  Spend on Dental Bursaries for Students at Glasgow and Dundee University for 2006-2009 Sessions

  

Institution
2006-07 Session
2007-08 Session
2008-09 Session
2009-10 Session 
to Date
Total


Dundee University- Value of Dental Bursaries Awarded
£856,000
£888,000
£944,000
£956,000
£3,644,000


Glasgow University- Value of Dental Bursaries Awarded
£928,000
£1,080,000
£1,180,000
£1,240,000
£4,428,000

Dentistry

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many dental students at the University of (a) Dundee and (b) Glasgow have received a dental bursary in each year since 2006-07.

Shona Robison: The information requested is shown in the following table.

  Number of Students who have Received a Dental Bursary at Glasgow and Dundee University for 2006-09 Sessions

  

Institution
2006-07 Session
2007-08 Session
2008-09 Session
2009-10 Session 
to Date
Total


Dundee University- Dental Bursary Recipients
214
222
236
239
911


Glasgow University- Dental Bursary Recipients
232
270
295
310
1,107

Dentistry

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many dental students at the University of (a) Dundee and (b) Glasgow since 2006-07 who received a dental bursary in their final year of study are now in vocational training in Scotland, also broken down by NHS board area.

Shona Robison: Dental vocational training normally lasts for one year and takes place after graduation. 127 dentists who graduated in 2009, and received a dental bursary in their final year of study, are currently in dental vocational training, as follows:

  

NHS Board
Dundee Dental School
Glasgow Dental School
Total


Ayrshire and Arran
2
8
10


Borders
0
0
0


Dumfries and Galloway
1
0
1


Fife
5
2
7


Forth Valley
2
5
7


Grampian
10
2
12


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
2
19
21


Highland
5
6
11


Lanarkshire 
1
16
17


Lothian
6
11
17


Orkney
0
1
1


Shetland
1
1
2


Tayside
16
4
20


Western Isles
0
1
1


Total
51
76
127



  In total 316 dentists who graduated in 2007, 2008, and 2009, and received a dental bursary in their final year of study, have been in dental vocational training, which includes the 127 in the above table.

Diabetes

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes among Scottish South Asians compared with the population as a whole, what steps it is taking to ensure earlier diagnosis and better access to treatment for these groups and what evidence there is that any such measures have been successful in reducing this health inequality.

Shona Robison: We want to ensure that heath care outcomes for people living with diabetes from minority ethnic communities are comparable to general Scottish population outcomes. The Diabetes Minority Ethnic Group (DMEG), a sub-group of the Scottish Diabetes Group, was re-established in 2008, in recognition of the need to address both the significantly higher prevalence of diabetes among some minority ethnic communities and ensure access to the best possible care.

  Part of DMEG’s remit is to improve the dissemination of information to minority ethnic people about the prevention and early detection of diabetes. In January 2010, DMEG published a diabetes education package for minority ethnic groups in English, Urdu and Chinese. This resource will shortly be augmented by the development of a DVD focussing on diabetes in South Asians. The DVD will incorporate an educational approach which focuses on improving knowledge and changing behaviour. Healthcare professionals and community groups will be able to use these resources to help raise awareness of the additional challenges diabetes presents to black and minority ethnic communities and improve outcomes.

  Research from NHS Tayside shows evidence of equity of access and quality of care for South Asians, but marginally poorer outcomes. This is something which will be addressed in the revised Diabetes Action Plan due to be published in the near future, drawing on current work in NHS Fife on reviewing service provision for black and minority ethnic groups.

  The Prevention of Diabetes and Obesity in South Asians (PODOSA) study, being carried out by a research team from Edinburgh and Glasgow Universities, is working with people at high risk of developing diabetes to encourage weight loss and increased physical activity, in order to find out if this approach can prevent or delay the onset of diabetes. So far, over 1,300 people have been screened. The study will finish in October 2012 and is expected to report in early 2013.

  Our "Keep Well" and "Well North" programmes assess people’s risk of cardiovascular disease in our most deprived communities, using the ASSIGN risk calculator, which has been designed to be as accurate as possible in Scottish circumstances by factoring in family history as well as deprivation. Those found to be at risk are offered lifestyle advice, referred on to further services, or prescribed suitable medication.

  The Scottish Public Health Network is, at the request of the Scottish Diabetes Group, currently looking at early detection of Type 2 diabetes.

Digital Technology

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether research has been carried out to inform its policy on next generation access, as promised in its response to Digital Britain: The Interim Report .

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29290 by Jim Mather on 3 December 2009, what progress has been made since this response; what research has been commissioned, and whether it now has a next generation broadband policy.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government issued a call for expressions of interest for its new piece of research on broadband in Scotland on 12 April 2010 and, following this, will shortly be issuing an invitation to tender to short-listed candidate tenderers. We expect to be in a position to select the successful tenderer and formally commission the research in May. We envisage the research will take four to five months to complete, and that it will form part of the Scottish Government’s evidence-base for future policy development on broadband.

Environment

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that Scotland will meet its European air quality targets this year.

Roseanna Cunningham: These targets are being met across the vast majority of Scotland. However, as in the rest of the UK, there is a small number of urban locations where the limit value for nitrogen dioxide is not expected to be met by the end of the year. The four UK administrations are currently preparing a joint submission to the European Commission for an extension to 2015 for meeting this limit value, by which time it is expected to be achieved throughout Scotland.

Environment

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions are being held with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency regarding the eradication of the Japanese knotweed plant.

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions are being held with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency regarding the spread of giant hogweed, given the danger of skin blistering from contact with its sap.

Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33277 on 5 May 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

  The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency is a member of the Scottish Working Group on Non-Native Species which promotes effective policy co-ordination and practical implementation of invasive non-native species policy in Scotland.

Environment

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been taken regarding the eradication of Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed, given their contribution to river bank erosion.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Invasive Non-Native Species Strategy for Great Britain provides a comprehensive policy framework to guide management response to invasive non-native species. This is based on the approach advocated by the Convention on Biological Diversity which prioritises prevention. Once invasive non-native species are well-established, complete eradication is rarely possible or cost-effective.

Environment

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what talks are being held with British Waterways regarding the spread of non-native invasive plants such as Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed on canals, river banks, tow paths and adjoining land in Scotland.

Roseanna Cunningham: I am not aware of any requests from British Waterways for discussion with Scottish Government ministers or officials on this specific topic.

  British Waterways carries out routine management and conducts surveys of aquatic plants to maintain a navigable channel and enable early response. British Waterways also carries out prioritised control of bank-side invasive non-native species where these are a problem including Japanese knotweed, knotweed hybrids, Himalayan balsam and giant hogweed on the Crinan, Caledonian and Lowland Canals (the latter includes the Forth and Clyde, Union and Monkland Canals).

  Where invasive non-native species downgrade the ecological status of a waterbody, the Water Framework Directive River Basin Management Planning process (co-ordinated by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency) may identify additional measures for British Waterways to take.

Finance

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what public expenditure has been as a percentage of GDP in (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom in each year since 1996-97.

John Swinney: Table 1 provides estimates of the ratio of public sector expenditure to GDP for Scotland for the years 2002-03 to 2007-08. Comparable figures for earlier years are not available.

  Table 1 – Total Managed Expenditure as a Percentage of GDP, Scotland

  

 
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08


TME as % of GDP 
40.4%
41.7%
41.4%
40.6%
41.2%
39.7%



  Source: Scottish Total Managed Expenditure is derived as the sum of current expenditure, current expenditure accounting adjustment, capital expenditure and capital expenditure accounting adjustment as reported in table 3.1 of GERS 2006-07 and GERS 2007-08. Scottish GDP is reported in table 3.2 of GERS 2006-07 and GERS 2007-08. Scottish GDP includes an illustrative geographical share of North Sea GDP.

  Comparable figures for the UK are published by HM Treasury and are reported in table 2.

  Table 2 – Total Managed Expenditure as a Percentage of GDP, UK

  

 
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08


TME as % of GDP
38.6%
39.4%
40.5%
41.2%
40.9%
41.1%



  Source: HM Treasury - Public Finances Databank, 24 March 2010.

Finance

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations have been made to it, and by what organisations, regarding the proposed withdrawal of cheques in 2018.

Jim Mather: Scottish Government has not been made aware of any concerns on this issue by any organisations, consumers or businesses.

Finance

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the proposed withdrawal of cheques in 2018 might have a detrimental impact on small businesses, in particular sole traders.

Jim Mather: Scottish Government has not been made aware of any concerns by small businesses or sole traders on this issue.

Finance

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the proposed withdrawal of cheques in 2018 might present security issues for older and housebound people.

Jim Mather: The issue of withdrawal of cheques has not been raised with the Scottish Government in terms of potential impact on older or housebound people. However, we wait with interest to see the Payment Council’s alternative accessible method of payment which should meet users needs.

Fisheries

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which stages in the lifecycle of farmed salmon must take place in Scotland in order to conform with the requirements of the protected geographic indication for Scottish farmed salmon.

Richard Lochhead: The current specification of the PGI does not state which stages of the production process for Scottish Farmed Salmon must take place within the geographical area.

Fisheries

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-32600 by Richard Lochhead on 14 April 2010, whether the amended single document accompanying the specification for the protected geographical indication for Scottish farmed salmon will be published and, if so, where it will be made available for public inspection.

Richard Lochhead: It is for the industry to come forward with an application to amend the specification and single document. Any proposed amendment must comply with the requirements set out in Article 9 of the EC Regulation 510/2006. Where there is a proposed amendment to the single document the Regulation requires the member state to initiate a public consultation procedure. Slightly different procedures apply if the amendment to the single document is classed as a "minor" amendment.

Fisheries

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-32597 by Richard Lochhead on 14 April 2010, whether organisations other than the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation can propose amendments to the specification of the protected geographical indication for Scottish farmed salmon.

Richard Lochhead: Any group satisfying the conditions of Articles 5(1) and (2) of the EC Regulation 510/2006 and having a legitimate interest may lodge an application for Scottish farmed salmon if they so wish. It is up to Defra to decide if an application is appropriate and meets the conditions of the EC Regulation 510/2006.

Flooding

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address the problem of flood damage to homes in the Falkirk Council area.

Roseanna Cunningham: We are working to bring Part 4 of the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 into effect in the autumn. This will give local authorities a new suite of powers to better manage the risk of flood damage to homes, whatever the source, throughout Scotland.

  Construction of Falkirk Council’s Bo’ness Flood Prevention Scheme is well underway and is expected to be completed this autumn.

Freight

Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the benefits will be for employment as a result of the announcement of a £3.2 million new freight facilities grant to Montrose Port Authority.

Stewart Stevenson: Decisions on award of Freight Facilities Grant are based on evidence of the environmental benefits which will be generated and the additional costs which will be incurred when transferring freight from road to rail or water. Although this development will undoubtedly also lead to an increase in employment opportunities in the Montrose area, we do not hold detailed figures on the likely level of increase.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hospital patients with underlying health problems died as a result of norovirus in NHS (a) Highland, (b) Grampian, (c) Western Isles, (d) Orkney and (e) Shetland in (i) 2006, (ii) 2007, (iii) 2008 and (iv) 2009.

Nicola Sturgeon: The numbers of deaths which occurred in hospitals where Norovirus was the underlying cause of death, or where Norovirus contributed to the death without being the underlying cause is shown in the following tables.

  Table 1a. Deaths Registered in Scotland, which Occurred in Hospitals and where Norovirus was the Underlying Cause of Death, by Selected NHS Boards from 2006 to 2009

  

NHS Board of Residence* 
Year of Registration of the Death


2006
2007
2008
2009


Grampian
-
-
-
-


Highland
-
-
-
-


Orkney
-
-
-
-


Shetland
-
-
-
-


Western Isles
-
-
-
-



  Source: General Registry Office Scotland. (-) equals zero deaths.

  Table 1b. Deaths Registered in Scotland, which Occurred in Hospitals, where a Person had Underlying Health Problems which Caused their Deaths and where Norovirus was Mentioned but was not the Underlying Cause of Death, by Selected NHS Boards from 2006 to 2009

  

NHS Board of Residence* 
Year of Registration of the Death


2006
2007
2008
2009


Grampian
-
-
-
2


Highland
-
-
-
-


Orkney
-
-
-
1


Shetland
-
-
-
-


Western Isles
-
-
-
-



  Source: General Registry Office Scotland. (-) equals zero deaths. The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD10). In the case of norovirus, the relevant ICD10 code is "A08.1 - Acute gastroenteropathy due to Norwalk agent". Data for 2009 is provisional and the final classification, for statistical purposes, of the cause of death will not be available until August 2010.

Justice

Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines the law officers will provide regarding the potential prosecution of a person assisting another to end his or her life.

Frank Mulholland: Any decision to prosecute is a matter for the Lord Advocate acting independently and in the public interest. Every case is considered on its own individual facts and circumstances and the Law Officers do not consider it appropriate to publish definitive prosecution policy guidelines in this area. The Prosecution Code, published by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, sets out the principles to be applied by Procurators Fiscal when deciding whether to prosecute.

  The Prosecution Code is a public document and can be found at:

  www.copfs.gov.uk/Publications/2001/05/prosecutioncode.

Ministerial Engagements

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what official engagements were undertaken by the Minister for Parliamentary Business on 27 April 2010.

Bruce Crawford: On the 27 April 2010 the minister undertook his usual Tuesday engagements as listed:

  

Tuesday 27 April 0900 – 0930
Meeting with Business Manager


Tuesday 27 April 1100 – 1130
Meeting with Business Manager


Tuesday 27 April 1130 – 1200
Meeting with Business Manager


Tuesday 27 April 1200 – 1230
Meeting with Business Manager


Tuesday 27 April 1300 – 1330
Business Planning Meeting


Tuesday 27 April 1400 – 1500
Parliamentary Bureau


Tuesday 27 April 1600 – 1800
Cabinet Meeting


Tuesday 27 April 1800 – 1830
Preparation for Debates Meeting

Parliamentary Questions

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many parliamentary questions from George Foulkes MSP have not received a substantive answer within the required time.

Bruce Crawford: Of the 1,539 questions asked by George Foulkes up to end March 2010, 311 have not received a substantive answer within the required time. They did, however, receive a holding reply and have now all been answered substantively.

Piers and Harbours

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what dues are paid to the Crown Estate from commercial harbours around Scotland.

Richard Lochhead: This information is not held centrally. Dues paid are negotiated on an individual basis between the Harbour Authorities and the Crown Estate.

Prison Service

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the recent HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) report on Perth Prison.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government welcomes HMCIP’s report and is pleased with his conclusion that Perth is "a very well led and managed prison" that it has "many examples of good practice" and "everyone is focused on trying to help prisoners and meet their needs".

Recycling

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the application fee and subsequent annual fee for companies wishing to set up a battery compliance scheme for recycling batteries.

Richard Lochhead: Officials have had a number of discussions with their UK Government counterparts in order to enable extensive consultation to take place in 2007 and again in 2008 on implementation of the EC Directive on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators.

  The level and structure of the relevant fees are intended to enable the environment agencies to recover the costs of the activity needed to monitor compliance with the directive.

Recycling

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with stakeholders regarding the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2006 and the fees levied to companies involved in electronics recycling.

Richard Lochhead: Extensive consultation was carried out with stakeholders on the introduction of the regulations, including the establishment of a separate Scottish stakeholders group. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has had subsequent engagement with stakeholders on the implementation of the regulations.

School Meals

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of primary school pupils was entitled to free school meals in 2007.

Michael Russell: The 2007 School Meals Survey, which took place in January/February 2007, recorded that 18.6% of primary school pupils were entitled to a free school lunch.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/06/04134749/0.

  Since August 2009, when we extended entitlement to a further category of tax credit recipients, approximately an additional 44,000 pupils (secondary and primary combined) are now entitled to a nutritious healthy free school lunch. This brings the total number of pupils eligible to 147,000 which represents an increase of 42%.

School Meals

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of primary school pupils was entitled to free school meals in 2009.

Michael Russell: The 2009 School Meals Survey, which took place in January/February 2009, recorded that 17.4% of primary school pupils were entitled to a free school lunch.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/06/22104701/0.

  Since August 2009, when we extended entitlement to a further category of tax credit recipients, approximately an additional 44,000 pupils (secondary and primary combined) are now entitled to a nutritious healthy free school lunch. This brings the total number of pupils eligible to 147,000 which represents an increase of 42%.

School Meals

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of secondary school pupils was entitled to free school meals in 2007.

Michael Russell: The 2007 School Meals Survey, which took place in January/February 2007, recorded that 14.2% of secondary school pupils were entitled to a free school lunch.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/06/04134749/0.

  Since August 2009, when we extended entitlement to a further category of tax credit recipients, approximately an additional 44,000 pupils (secondary and primary combined) are now entitled to a nutritious healthy free school lunch. This brings the total number of pupils eligible to 147,000 which represents an increase of 42%.

School Meals

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of secondary school pupils was entitled to free school meals in 2009.

Michael Russell: The 2009 School Meals Survey, which took place in January/February 2009, recorded that 12.9% of secondary school pupils were entitled to a free school lunch.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/06/22104701/0 .

  Since August 2009, when we extended entitlement to a further category of tax credit recipients, approximately an additional 44,000 pupils (secondary and primary combined) are now entitled to a nutritious healthy free school lunch. This brings the total number of pupils eligible to 147,000 which represents an increase of 42%.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the restructuring of Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s environmental science services to be completed.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has decided that its laboratory services can best be delivered through a centre of excellence model, located at two main laboratory sites based in Aberdeen and the central belt. These laboratories will be supported by a field science and scientific advisory service based in locations across Scotland.

  SEPA intends to implement this model over the next two to five years on a phased basis to coincide with changes to its estate in the locations affected. Changes to its organisational structure and to the way it delivers its services are predominantly operational matters for the agency itself.

Smoking

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many attempts to quit have been made with smoking cessation services in NHS Tayside in each year since 2005 and what percentage remained successful 12 months later.

Shona Robison: Information on quit attempts made via NHS smoking cessation services is available from the agreed national minimum dataset for cessation services. The national smoking cessation database (the primary data collection mechanism) was established in July 2005. Calendar year 2006 is the first year for which national cessation monitoring data are published.

  National monitoring is based on clients who set a "quit date"/make a quit attempt with a cessation service. This will not include persons referred to services or who make initial contact with a service, but who do not go on to set a quit date.

  Table 1 shows the number of quit attempts made with smoking cessation services in NHS Tayside and the percentage of these recorded as a "successful" outcome at 12 months after the "quit date". Data for 2009 are not yet published.

  

Year
Total Quit Attempts
% Successful at 12 Months After Quit Date


2006
2,071
11%


2007
2,960
11%


2008
3,028
9%



  Source: Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland. Figures are based on total quit attempts, rather than total number of clients with a quit attempt and could include repeat quit attempts by the same client.

  The data shown are based on self-reported "not smoked, or smoked no more than five cigarettes, since one month follow-up". The remainder of the quit attempts, those not recorded as "successful" at 12 months after quit date, will include both "known smokers" and cases "lost to follow-up/smoking status unknown". In Tayside in 2008, for example, the cumulative percentage of cases "lost to follow-up/smoking status unknown" at 12 months after "quit date" was 60%, with 31% of cases "known smokers" and 9% "known quits".

Smoking

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage of (a) female and (b) male smokers has been in NHS Tayside in each year since 2004.

Shona Robison: The answer is shown in the following table.

  Table 1. Male and Female Smoking Prevalence, Aged 16+ in NHS Tayside, from 2003-04 to 2007-08.

  

 Year
 Males
 Females


 2003-04
 26.2
 25.2


 2005-06
 25.2
 26.8


 2007-08
 25.5
 23.3



  Source: Scottish Household Survey. Two year averages were used for the breakdown of smoking prevalence in males and females because of small numbers.

Social Care

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funds are available to social care providers to develop telecare technologies.

Shona Robison: £4 million is being made available through the Scottish Government’s eHealth programme to further expand telehealthcare services across the country over 2010-11. All 32 local health and social care partnerships are being offered £120,000, subject to committing match funding of an equal or greater amount. This takes the Scottish Government’s total investment in the programme since its inception in 2006 to £20 million.

  The additional funding will enable Scotland to further build on the achievements to date in developing technology-enabled services which support a shift in the balance of care from institutional to community settings; improve outcomes for service users and carers, and help deliver key health and care performance targets.

Voluntary Sector

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with stakeholders in Scotland regarding the promotion of the European Year of Volunteering 2011.

John Swinney: We are in discussions with the other administrations in the UK about the implementation and financing of the European Year of Voluntary Activities Promoting Active Citizenship 2011. We fully expect to engage with Scottish stakeholders as soon as the basic elements are settled.

Waste Management

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-32605 by Richard Lochhead on 29 March 2010, whether the Scottish Futures Trust will provide funding for (a) joint and (b) individual local authority waste management programmes.

Richard Lochhead: I have asked Barry White, Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) to respond. His response is as follows:

  SFT’s role is to support local authorities, acting individually or in collaboration with others, in securing value for money in the delivery of their residual waste treatment requirements. The six projects with which SFT is involved, either as an invited member of the project board and/or providing direct support to the project team, will together manage approximately 40% of Scotland’s residual household waste.